"There's a siege on Palestinians in the West Bank. We went to break it."
Extremist Israeli settlers have enforced a siege on Palestinian homes in the northern West Bank village of Qusra, trapping families inside their homes and cutting off their water and electricity supply. Our government and the military are supporting the siege, allowing it to continue into its second week now, with no end in sight.
We went to Qusra, Jewish and Palestinian activists of Standing Together alongside our partners at Looking the Occupation in the Eye and Rabbis for Human Rights, to stand in solidarity with the besieged families, and we succeeded in delivering urgently needed food and aid despite army efforts to prevent it from getting through.
We know that the army and our extremist government are backing the settlers because not only have they not removed the settlers from the area, but soldiers were even seen talking and sitting with the settlers in the makeshift structures they’ve set up around the Palestinian families’ property.
Our job is not only to confront settler violence on the ground, it’s also to grow power from within our society to demand an end to the occupation; to demand leadership that can look out for its citizens instead of the political and settler elite. This reality has to change NOW.
Our work is possible because of our monthly donors, Friends of Standing Together. Their support gives us the financial stability to respond when families are in immediate danger while also building a long-term strategy for mobilizing our society. You can become a Friend by donating any amount you wish each month, and get exclusive content, Zoom briefings, and be part of a global community of people raising a voice for justice and peace in Israel-Palestine.